Birth Control Lawsuits

People who choose to take birth control have the right to safe and effective medicine. Sadly, whether prescribed to prevent pregnancy, to help regulate hormones, or another reason, a growing number of birth control products have been found to cause serious and even deadly side effects. Learn more about ongoing and previous birth control lawsuits and eligibility.

Why are people filing birth control lawsuits?

Several types of birth control have been linked to serious side effects leading to injury and death. If you or a loved one have been harmed by a birth control medication or device, you may be eligible to file a contraceptive lawsuit.

Lawsuits for birth control have involved many types of contraceptive methods:

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs): IUDs are inserted by a healthcare provider and can last anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on the type. Some patients have experienced severe complications and have filed birth control IUD lawsuits.
• Permanent devices: Some devices can be surgically implanted for a permanent solution to birth control. Devices like the fallopian tube implant Essure® have been linked to organ perforation and death.
• Pills: Birth control pills are one of the most common types of contraceptives. There are several brands and hormonal compositions of birth control pills. Some have been linked to serious side effects like blood clots and strokes. Read further to learn more about birth control pill lawsuits.
• Ring: The vaginal ring has been linked to minor problems like nausea and headache and more serious problems like blood clots, heart attacks, toxic shock syndrome and strokes.

If you experience negative side effects from a birth control medication or device, you should contact your doctor. Do not stop taking medication or remove an implanted device without the help of a healthcare professional.

Contact a birth control device attorney

If you or a loved one has used a birth control device or has taken birth control pills and experienced a serious side effect or wrongful death, contact our medical birth control lawyers by email or at 1.800.768.4026.

Contact a lawyer today

Our current birth control lawsuits

Our attorneys are currently reviewing claims associated with the Paragard® IUD. We represent people litigating against Paragard and have previously litigated for people harmed by other IUDs and types of birth control. 

Motley Rice attorneys may be able to help you file a claim for birth control harm. However, we cannot give medical advice. If you are experiencing an issue with your birth control, contact your doctor immediately. 

Paragard® IUD

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small implantable birth control devices. They may also be called Intrauterine systems (IUSs). Paragard® is a T-shaped, hormone-free IUD made of flexible plastic with a thin layer of copper. The copper serves as the device’s active ingredient by changing the patient’s cervical mucus. This change prevents sperm from reaching the egg and fertilizing it. 

However, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data reveals thousands of women and health professionals have reported severe complications. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting (FAERS) dashboard includes more than 50,000 total reports involving patients who had a Paragard device, including 17 deaths. 

Contact a Paragard lawyer to find out if you are eligible to file a lawsuit for birth control problems.

Learn more about Paragard IUD lawsuits

Our prior birth control case experience

We previously represented people harmed by other types of birth control. Besides IUDs, we have represented people harmed by several other types of birth control, including:

• Fallopian tube implants (permanent birth control): Implanted by a medical provider
• Prescription birth control medications: Taken orally by the patient
• Vaginal rings: Placed and changed monthly by the patient

We no longer accepting new clients with claims regarding these birth control methods: 

Mirena® IUD 

The Mirena® intrauterine device is designed to release the hormone levonorgestrel for up to five years to prevent pregnancy. 

The device has allegedly been linked to issues of organ perforation, embedment and a complication known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Read more about our leadership role in Mirena lawsuits.

Essure® permanent birth control

Essure was a permanent birth control device implanted into the patient’s fallopian tubes. The device’s maker, Bayer, stopped making the device in 2018 and asked providers to return all unused units of the device in 2019. Essure has allegedly caused serious side effects, including chronic pelvic pain, organ perforation, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and death. 

Motley Rice medical attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick served as lead counsel of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for Essure litigation coordinated in California state court. Read more about Motley Rice’s involvement with the Essure lawsuits.

NuvaRing® vaginal rings

NuvaRing® is a small, flexible plastic ring patients place inside their vagina to prevent pregnancy. Many women allege severe complications.

In February 2014, a $100 million settlement was reached with device manufacturer Merck & Co. This settlement resolved close to 2,000 claims against Merck for allegedly causing a number of serious side effects, including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack and stroke.

Motley Rice member attorney Carmen Scott served on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee of the NuvaRing multidistrict litigation. Read more about Motley Rice’s involvement with the NuvaRing lawsuits.

Yaz®/Yasmin® birth control pills 

Yaz® and Yasmine® are birth control pills manufactured by Bayer that contain the hormone drospirenone.

A 2011 study funded by the FDA examined the link between drospirenone-containing contraceptive pills and the risk of developing venous thromboembolism. The study found that people who took drospirenone-containing birth control had a roughly 1.5-fold increased chance of developing the condition. Venous thromboembolism can cause blood clots to form in the body’s deep veins and travel toward the lungs, blocking one or more arteries. Other side effects associated with drospirenone include blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. 

Lawsuits against Bayer allege the company failed to warn patients of these significant risks and exaggerated the effectiveness of the drug in off-label treatments. Off-label uses advertised by Bayer included reducing acne and treating PMDD, a more severe version of PMS. 

In 2014, Bayer agreed to pay close to $1.69 billion to settle approximately 8,250 suits brought by women who suffered venous clot injuries allegedly caused by these prescription birth control pills.

Our experience with birth control lawsuits

Motley Rice medical attorneys have worked for years to hold birth control manufacturers responsible for products that harm people. 

Our lawyers have also held leadership positions in lawsuits involving birth control devices and prescriptions.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Paragard remains approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.